Lt. Thomas/4c Brooks was born 7 Mar 1738 at Wallingford (now Cheshire), Connecticut2,1, and there baptised 7 May following.2 He married Ruth Hickox, daughter of John Hickox and Mary Gaylord.3,4 Thomas Brooks lived, according to Jacobus, at Burlington, where he is buried. A closer look finds his footprints in two other contiguous towns within Hartford County.5,2 His children were baptised at Bristol, where the family was recorded in 1790.2,6 His son Ahira's pension file places the son's birth at Farmington, where, according to a deposition in Ahira's pension file by his sister Lucina, the family lived during the war. The three towns mentioned essentially form a contiguous triangle.7 Thomas Brooks was appointed lieutenant of the 16th company, 15th regiment by the General Assembly of May-Jun 1773.8 Three years later, he was denounced as a Loyalist and stripped of his office.

Whereas information hath been made to this Assembly by Amos Barns, Dan Hill and James Stoddard, three of the committee of inspection in Farmington9, that Thomas Brooks of Farmington, lieutenant of the 12th company in the 15th regiment, hath openly professed before said committee that he could not satisfy himself that the Colonies could be justifyed in their present measures, and that he could not join with them against Great Britain or against the King, and that he is unfit to sustain any military office: Resolved by this Assembly, that Colo. John Pitkin and Colo. Thomas Belden be a committee to call said Brooks before them and and examine into the matters alledged in said complaint or information, and report make of what they shall find, with their opinion thereon, to this or the next General Assembly; and that in the meantime he be and is hereby suspended from the exercise of his office of lieutenant of the company aforesaid.8,10

Thomas was not alone in his qualms about the rebellion. His uncle Capt. Benjamin Brooks and Benjamin's two sons (Thomas's 1st cousins), all residing at Claremont, New Hampshire, refused to sign the Association Test, a Revolutionary loyalty oath attached to that year's New Hampshire census. But in the end, perhaps because he had warmed to the Revolutionary cause, or (more likely, perhaps) to prove his loyalty, Thomas Brooks enlisted, at Farmington about 1 Jun 1777, as a teamster in the Revolutionary army, for a term of 3 years, but was forced to return home to Farmington in ill health. His eldest son Ahira took his place as a substitute at Fishkill, New York about 1 Sep 1778, and served 20 months to complete his father's term of enlistment.7 Of Bristol in the 1790 census, household two males over 16, one under, and five females6, Thomas died 3 Dec 1812 (g.s.), a. 74.3 His probate names children Chauncey, Ruth Webster, Lucina, Almira, Lydia Bartholomew, Thomas, Hannah Moses, Abigail Thompson, and Gilbert.2 His wife Ruth died 6 Mar 1816, a. 75.11 They are buried in Milford St. (South) Cemetery, Burlington, where his g.s. titles him Lieut.3,12

[S1121] Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, 1636-1776, 14:86.

"The Farmington, Connecticut Committee of Inspection investigated reports that militia officer Thomas Brooks was 'unfriendly to the constitutional rights of America in June 1776.' Brooks freely admitted that he 'could not satisfy himself that the colonies were justified in their present measures' and that he could not join them to take up arms. Such 'principles and temper,' the committee voted, disqualified him from holding a militia office, and it recommended that the General Assembly strip him of that office. Committees repeatedly used the formula of stating the furthest extent of suspicion brought to their attention before indicating that the evidence demonstrated a specific and less serious infraction." — Robert M. Calhoon, The Loyalists in Revolutionary America, 1760-1781

Abraham/4c Brooks, born 22 Apr 1743 at Wallingford (now Cheshire), Connecticut2,1, was baptised in June at the Congregational Church in Cheshire.2 He married, 5 Mar 1767 at Farmington, Deborah Hungerford of F., daughter of Capt. John Hungerford and Deborah (–?–),3,2, who died 8 Nov 1788, "38th year,"4 and was buried in Lamson Corner (formerly South) Cemetery, Burlington.4 In the 1790 census Abraham was located at Bristol.2 The father and several sons removed to Oneida County, New York, where Abraham Brooks (whether father or son unknown) is listed in the account books of Brayton's Store, Western, New York between 1796 and 1804.5 Abraham Sr. died 16 Mar 1805 (g.s.), a. 612, and is buried in Old Steuben Corners Cemetery, Steuben, New York.2,6

Deborah/4c Brooks was born 5 Feb 1732 [15 Feb, Jacobus] at Wallingford, Connecticut, and baptised Jul 1737 at the Congregational church in Cheshire.2,1,3 She married, 15 Dec 1756 at Waterbury, Barnabas Lewis, son of Benjamin Lewis.4,1 She died at Waterbury 11 Feb 1759, a. 27.1

Child with an unknown spouse/person:

Desire/4c Brooks was born 9 Feb 1740 at Wallingford, Connecticut2,1, and baptised the same month at the Congregational church, Cheshire.2 She had a natural son Solomon Brooks c. 1760, and died before 1774.2

Thomas/4c Brooks III, born 2 Dec 1733 at Wallingford, Connecticut2,1, and baptised Jul 1737 at the Congregational Church, Cheshire2, married, 12 May 1757 at Wallingford, Mary Hotchkiss, daughter of John Hotchkiss and Miriam Wood.2,3 Thomas Brooks, either this man or his father, was ensign of the south company, Cheshire, May 1760, under Capt. Enos Brooks and Lt. Cornelius Brooks.4 Of Cheshire in the 1790 census, household composition 2-0-3.2,5 His wife died 3 May 1798, a. 572, and he died 20 Mar 1801 (c.r., g.s.), a. 67.2 They are buried in Hillside Cemetery, Cheshire.6

Samuel/4c Brooks was born 4 Apr 1738 at Wallingford (now Cheshire), Connecticut2, and baptised the same month at the Congregational church, Cheshire.2 He married, 10 Jan 1760 at Wallingford, Ruth/4 Doolittle of W., daughter of Sgt. Ebenezer/3 Doolittle and Lydia Warner.2,3 They removed, Apr 1780, to New Cambridge (now Bristol, Connecticut).4 Of Bristol in the 1790 census, with himself and one male over 16, one male under 16, and his wife Ruth.5 Ruth died there 25 Apr 1804, a. 686,7, and he died 1 Jun 1813 (g.s.), a. 75.7 They are interred in the Old North Burying Ground, Bristol.8,9 Samuel's son Reuben, in 1832, deposed that in the latter part of August 1780, he re-enlisted for a three-month term in Capt. Woodford's company, Col. Parsons's regiment as a substitute for his father. It is likely that Samuel had been drafted to help fill a town quota, and that Reuben took his place.4